Horn button



Aug. 30, 1927.. .875.

L.BLACKMORE w HORN BUTTON Filed Jan.30, 1926 gnuenl oz LLOYD EMF/(NUDE Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

, i v 1,640,875 PAT Ema oer ricer,

LLOYD BLACKMORE, OEHLGH'LA'ND PARK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T GENERKL morons CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or DELAWAREL HORN summon.

Application:filedzlanuary 30;.192e. Serial No. s4gsoa rangement, construction. and: combination of my: invention. s 1 v a Figure 2 is an enlarged'perspectiveeview Figure 5 isanenlarged perspectiveview of a yoke for the switch;

parts as hereinafter more particularly described inl the following specification, and

pointed out in; the annexed claims; 1 Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In: the accompanying drawings :2 Figure 1' is-a: fragmentary view ofrthe; top

of aisteering wheel column, having: mounted thereon a switch, shown in section, com structed in accordancewith the principlesot of the switchinsulation base.)

Figure 3 isan enlarged. perspective. view of the socket member for housing: my innprovedL switch.

f F'gure-i s an enlarged. perspective; View of a button for the sw tch;

Figure 6'1san enlarged perspective-view ofa spring for-the switch. v V My improved switch is particularly adapted to be usedi'onl tubulan types of steering columns, and, in this nstance, is 'mounted in a socketontubular extension7,

carried on a steeringcolumn fi', above the steering wheel, as indicated invFigure l.

The various parts assume, preferably, the construction as illustrated in Figures 2 to 6, inclusive, that is, the actuating member 10 comprisesabutton and a hollow shank 11,

A b'aselmemberr12 is concarried thereby; structed of insul'ation material shaped to I fit 'insidefthe socket 7 and hastormed on. its

surfaces suitable grooves l3 upper and end V and 14:- and recesses-16, 1'1 and 18', as indicated in- Figure 2, for a purpose hereinafter to be seen. The said base, moreover',, 1s constructed to carry a centralz contact member was connection with a conductingwire 2O clamped thereto by clamping screw 21.

The upper surface of' the base-12, around the said contact member, may conveniently be formed with a shallow bas1ns1-2 said side tab i29r A flat spring 26 is constructed to lie'across the basin 12e in the saidgrooves-13,,and is of a convenient length to ,be carried by a yoke 27., Said yoke 27 is formed with; a central aperture 21 provided with a short upturned flange 21 to-receiye the shankgll of the; buttoir 10,, and carries depending tabs 28' and aside tab 29,, said, tabs} servingijto fasten together, in the manner illustrated injF-igure 1, the various parts of the said switch. The socket, or tubular extensionr? is formed with a: suitable aperture: 301 to receivea clamping screw 31: for engagement with a threaded aperture 32 in the; side of the said yoke. v

In the assemblage of my device, the yoke 27 isniounted on tlheshankof the buttonl-L, and is secured thereto by spinning oven the bottom marginal portion o;t ,the-st'e1n,11'f, as indicated in Figure 1. The spring; 26 is then, placed between; the two armsflof: the yoke and locked therein by turning in the It will be noted, as indicated 'in Figure 1', that the'shank 1L extends slightly beyond the aperture 21 in, the yoke 27,, whereby the spring 26 is causedto assume, a slightly curved position Bysuchv a construction, it will be QVlClGIlt'tlliLt the stem,l9. willbe constantly, urged upwardly, and, in such annaner as torcontact with the said yoke,v thereby resiliently holding the button in its raised position. The yoke; 27, carryingpthespring and button, is then fitted over the base 1-2 anddisposed inathe said grooves-1'3 andvl i, formed t hereon'to receive the said spring and: the arms of thesa-id yokerthe inwardly I extending tab 29 being received by the said recess 17. The yoke is thenusecured: to the base 12 by bending thetabs 28 intov the aforesaid recesses16n-A wire 20,;housed within: the; steering column and'connected "with a. horn and; battery (not, shown) is t hen=v clamped: to the said contact, member i 19 by the screw 21;. The pants, thus secured, "100 are, disposed within the socket 7, and: secured thereinaby the said" screw 31,,positioned in theqaperture 30 and. engaging the said threaded aperture 32 in thesideof the yoke 27, the aforesaid recess 1-8-conveniently, re- 1'05 ceiving; the extended end of the. said set screw. a 1 q ,In 0peration,the; actuating; member 10 is pressed downagainst: the resistance of the spring, 26'i-and brought; intofelectricalcon- "1110 tact with the contact member 19. Electrical contact having been made, it will be obvious that the horn (not shown) will then be grounded through the spring 26, the yoke 27, the set screw 31 seated in the socket 7, and the various metallic parts of the steering column. It will be obvious that by reason of the short upturning flange 2i" surrounding the aperture 2l' v01E the yoke 27, a degree of lateral movement of the button stem will be permitted. I

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a construction, arrangement and disposition of various parts which will allow a complete freedom of play of the actuating member with respect thereto without sacrificing the structure to any undesirable rattling, and yet always obtain a positive point of contact, and a device which full attains the objects hereinbefore set fort 1.

Modification of the above may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a switch, a base oil insulating material having a central contact member, a flat spring extending across the top of said base, a bridge piece over said spring and secured to said base and having an orifice therethrough and a headed button having a shank extending through the orifice in said bridge piece and spread to form a retaining head between said bridge piece and said sprin 2. i switch comprising a base of insulation material, a stationary contact member, a strap fastened across the said base and provided with a central aperture, an actuating member comprising a button and a headed shank fitted in the said aperture, a movable contact member locked in the said strap and so positioned as to maintain a retractlle engagement of the said headed shank with the said strap.

3. A switch including a base of insulation material, a stationary contact member secured in said base, a strap fastened across the said base and formed with a central aperture, an actuating member comprising a button and a headed shank fitted in the said aperture, a movable contact member locked into the said strap, and so positioned as to maintain a rectractile engagement of the said headed shank with the said strap.

4. In a switch, the combination of a housing, a supporting yoke, an insulation member formed to receive the said yoke, a con ducting element carried. in the said insulation member, and'means to ground. the said conducting means, comprising a tiltable actuating member and a metallic strip, both being mounted in the said yoke.

5. In aswitch, the combination of a housing, a supporting yoke, an insulation member formed to receive the said yoke, a conducting element carried in the said insulation member, a Hat spring isposed in spaced relation from the conducting element and locked into the said yoke, and an actuating means carried in the said yoke and positioned to slightly depress the said spring, the latter being maintained in spaced relation with respect to the said conducting member, whereby the said actuating member normally assumes a fixed position, and. is yieldable only to operating pushes.

6. In a switch, the combination of a housing, a supporting yoke, an insulation member formed to receive the said yoke, a conducting element carried in the said insulation member, a flat spring associated with the said yoke being normally retained in spaced relation from the said conducting member by the resiliency of the said spring, and means mounted in the said yoke to actuate the said spring.

7. In a switch, the combination of a housing, a supporting yoke, an insulation member formed to receive the said yoke, a conducting element carried in the said insulation member, a flat spring disposed in spaced relation from the said conducting member and locked into the said yoke, and means maintained in retractile position by the said spring extending through the said yoke for actuating the said spring and producing an electrical contact between the said spring and the said conducting member. 7

8. In a switch, the combination of a housing, a supporting yoke, an insulation member formed to receive the said yoke, a conducting element carried in the said insulation member, a flat spring disposed in spaced relation from the conducting element and locked into the said yoke, and an actuating means urged upward out of operative position by the said spring, and means extending through the said yoke so mounted as to transmit positively to the said spring a pressure impartedangularly to the axis of the said switch, and thereby close the circuit of said switch.

9. A circuit closing mechanism including an inverted U-shaped member, an insulation block supported thereby, a dome shaped contacting member embedded in the latter, a flat spring interposed between the said 'U member and the said block, and anchored in a fixed position therein, an actuating member mounted in the said yoke having its lowermost portion extended slightly past the normal plane of the spring and being held firmly against the said yoke by the resiliency of the said spring to prevent rattle of said parts.

10. A circuit closing mechanism including a supporting yoke, an insulation block supported thereby, a dome shaped contacting member embedded in the latter, a flat spring interposed between the said yoke and the said block, and anchored in the said yoke in a fixed position, an actuating member having its lowermost portion sufliciently extended through the said yoke, as to cause a retractile engagement of the said spring therewith for a purpose of preventing a rattle between the said parts;

11. A circuit closing mechanism including an inverted U-shaped member, an insulation block supported thereby, a dome shaped contacting member embedded in the latter, a fiat spring interposed between the said U member and the said block, and anchored in a fixed position within the U member,

an actuating member having its lowermost portion sufliciently extended through the said yoke, to cause a retractile engagement of the said spring therewith for a purpose imparted to the said member other than square and central along its axial line.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LLOYD BLAOKMORE. 

